Lifting device for covers



1,622,307 Ma h, 29 1927' D. H. cHAsoN LIFTING DEVICE FOR COVERS Filed Aug. 12. 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 [NVENTOR WITNESS y v m4 W ATTORNEY March 29 1927. 1,622,307 D. H. CHASON '2 LIFTING DEVICE FOR COVERS Filed Aug. 12-. 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVE TOR WITNESSES BY, I

ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 29, 1927.

1,622,307 F t-"1C E.

DANIEL CHASON, OF ELIZWBETH, NEVI JERSEY, A$$IGNOR TO THE SINGER MANU- FACTU'RING COMPANY, 0 JERSEY.

ELIZABETH, NEW" JERSEY, .A CORPORATION OFlVEW IFTIE'G- DEVICE FGE COVER-S.

Application filed August 12, 1925. Serial No. easel] This invention relates to devices-tor initially raising panels or covers affording no convenient linger grip, so that such covers may be readily grasped by hand and opened. For example, sewing machine cabinets are customarily constructed in the "form of a library table, the top of which is formed with a rectangular aperture to receive the sewing; machine; the latter being adapted to be dropped or swungthrough such aperture into a cavity or receptacle below the tabletop, when not in use. The'table-top commonly includes a hinged panel or cover, preferably formed in hinged sections. which serves'to close the aperture in the table-top when the machinejis lowered; the panel or cover bein then flush with the remainder of the table-top.

With a cabinet or other receptacle having a cover of this nature, it is diiilcult to catch hold of the cover to raise the same. A fin ger grip set flush with the upper side of the cover has been proposed but such a device is conspicuous and mars the appearance of the table-top as a whole. Further. such finger grip is difiicult tograsp securely and is likely to cause injury to the finger nails of the user.

Thepresent invention has for an object to provide a concealed and easily operated device for initially raising a cover so that it may be readily grasped and opened by the user.

To the attainment of the ends in view there is provided an endwise movable rod and guide mounted below the level of the receptacle or table-top; one end of the rod being accessible at the side of the receptacle. The other end of the rod is formed with a lifting arm which extends laterally from the main portion of the rod. The rod is preferably spirally formed and the guide is preferably formed with a rod receiving aperture complementary to the cross-section of the rod. whereby the rod may be caused to turn when shifted inwardly. The lateral arm initially lies horizontally below the receptacle top and adjacent but directly under the aperture closed by the cover. hen the rod is shittcd inwardly. the arm is projected under the cover with a spiral motion and turned so as to engage and lift the cover sufiicientlv to enable the operator to readily catch hold of the cover and open the same. The rod is preferably restored to initial position entirelyat one side of the aperture in the receptacle or table-top by means of a suitable spring and hence does not offer anobstruction to the lifting of the sewingmachine or other article through such aperture. I

In the drawingaFig. 1 is a top plan View of a sewing machine cabinet of the library table type embodying; the invention. Fig.2 is a section on the line 22, Fig. 1. Fig.3

is a sectional view on the line 3 3, Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a similar view showing the cover lifting}; rod projected into lifting engagement with the cover member of the cabinet and Figs. 5 and 6 are detail perspective views of the guide and rod membersshown in Figs. 3 and 4.

The invention is shown as embodied ina sewing machine cabinet comprisinga tabletop 1 supported by the legs 2 and connect inn side wall members 3 defining a receptacle or cavity for the u ual 'sewin-g machine 1.

The table-topis formed with an aperture which is closed by means-of the flush panel or cover'5 hinged at 6 to the table-top 1. This cover is preferably made in three sections 5 and 5: the sections Wand 5* being hinged together at '7. '7 and the sections 5" and 5 being hinged together at 8, 8. After the cover as a whole has been raised and the sewing: machine swun upwardly through the aperture in the table-top about its hinges 45?. the sections 5 and 5 may be folded under the section 5 as shown in dotted lines, Fist. 2. and the front edge of the sewing' machine bed-plate 4 allowed to 7 rest horizontally upon the led e 9. The cover-sections 5 5 are retained in folded position. by means of the spring clip 10 which i mounted on the under side of the cover-section 5 and is adapted to yieldingrly the inclined pin 11 mounted on the under side of the cover-section 5".

The invention comprises means for initially raising: the cover 5 so that itmay be readily grasped by the operator. To this end. in the embodiment illustrated, there is mounted on. the under side of the top 1 a euide .n"a.cket 12 formed with a rectangular slot 13 which slidably receives the rod 14 formed at its inner end with a lateral extension or arm 15 terminating; in a rounded head 16. The rod 14 is formed at its outer end with a threaded pin 17 on which is screwed the push-button 18 slidably fitting the hole 19 in the side wall member 3 of the cabinet. A compression spring 20 is interposed between the push-button 18 and the bracket 12 and a stop-pin 21 is fixed to the rod14 to limit the inward motion of the latter. The rod 14 is given a spiral form or quarter twist 22 between the pin 21 and the arm 15, to cause the rod to rot-ate about 90 when pushed inwardly. It will be readily understood by reference to Figs. 2, 3 and 4, that when the rod 14 is pushed i11- wardly, the arm 15 is carried under the cover section 5 and turned so as to engage and lift the same, Figs. 2 and 4, sufliciently to enable the operator to readily take hold of the rear edge 5 of the cover; the spring 20 restoring the rod 14 to initial position when such rod is released. When the rod 14 is restored to initial position, Fig. 3, the arm 15 is entirely at one side of the space directly below the aperture in the table-top and hence does not offer any obstruction to the raising of the sewing machine.

The present cover lifting device is entirely concealed, except for the push button 18, which occupies an inconspicuous position beneath the'top 1 and there are no finger holes, knobs, or the like, to mar the appearance of the table-top as a whole.

Having thus set forth the nature of the invention, what I claim herein is 1. The combination with a receptacle having an apertured top and a cover closing the aperture in such top, of a cover-lifting de vice free of connection with such cover comprising a manually operated rod slidably and rotatably mounted below the receptacle top and accessible at the side of such receptacle, said rod having an angularly related arm at its inner end adapted when said rod is rotated to engage and lift such cover.

2. The combination with a receptacle having an apertured top and a hinged cover closing the aperture in such top, of a rod slidably mounted substantially parallel to and below the receptacle-top at one side of the space directly below the aperture and having at its inner end an angularly relatedarm, and means for causing said rod to turn when shifted inwardly, whereby said arm is carried under the cover and swung into lifting engagement with the latter.

3. The combination with a receptacle having an apertured top and a hinged covei closing the aperture in such top, of acover lifting device comprising a spirally formed push-rod and guide mounted below and at one side of the cover. said rod having at its inner end an arm adapted to engage and lift the cover when such rod iscpushed inwardly.

4. The combination with a receptacle-top having an aperture and a cover closing such aperture, of a guide-bracket secured to theunder side of the receptacle-top, a push'rod slidably mounted in said guide bracket and formed at its inner end with an arm, said guide-rod having a spirally surfaced portion coacting with said bracket to cause said rod to turn when pushed endwise and carry said arm into lifting engagement with said cover, and a spring for returning said push-rod to initial position.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

DANIEL H. CHASON. 

